European Cup Qualifying: Ballack Cut From Germany Squad

Joachim Loew has today announced his squad for the upcoming European Cup Qualifying matches against Belgium and Azerbaijan, and experienced midfield general Michael Ballack has failed to make Loew’s squad.

After Ballack’s comments about wrestling the national team captaincy back from Philipp Lahm, he has become a bit of a disturbance in what has become a very united national team dressing room. The rise of Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger means that Ballack’s place in the team is under serious threat. Khedira’s energy and passing ability, as well as his strong tackling and late bursts into the opposition box makes him a dangerous player for Germany, and a player Germany cannot afford to lose. Schweinsteiger has essentially guaranteed himself a place for the foreseeable future, after being both an excellent playmaker and a dynamic box-to-box midfielder who provided a lot of pace and passing ability to the German national team.

Ballack’s rather bullish attitude in being able to walk back into the German national team and retain the captain’s armband has been met with a firm hand by Joachim Loew, who has decided to rule Michael Ballack out of his latest squad. Is Ballack’s national team future over for good? Comments below!

Rene Adler has returned to the fray, as has Heiko Westermann and Christian Traesch, who were all ruled out of the World Cup due to injury.

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4 Comments

David HAugust 28, 2010

Just putting off the inevitable decision. Hard to see how Löw can freeze him out w/o causing a shit storm in Deutschland, considering how much he’s contributed to the team’s success since 2002. I wish he’d retire to save everyone the hassle, but it ain’t gonna happen. His ego’s too big (not that that makes him any different from other top players.)

I strongly dislike Joachim Loew decision.. Ballack is recovering from injury. he even scored for bayer leverkusen and playing very well in leverkusen.. how can loew reject him?? ballack is a legend of germany national team. he has contributed n achieved so much since 2002.. he is the important play maker of the sqaud. he is the real captain of germany.. we all know his achievements for the germany as a captain n before captain.. comparing khedira and ballack is a foolish thing. ballack and bastain shweinstieger is the best combination in the midflied till date.. they are the super combination. no one can replace ballack. he is just awesome.. his free kicks are superb.. we cannot compare ballack with khedira. we have to see lots more of khedira now but we saw and we know what Ballack is… miss you Ballack.. hope to see him playing for his country after these two matches.. he will come back with a bang……..